Scheduled Monument: Gallowsclough Cob Bowl Barrow (1011121)

EXTRACT FROM ENGLISH HERITAGE'S RECORD OF SCHEDULED MONUMENTS MONUMENT: Gallowsclough Cob bowl barrow PARISH: OAKMERE DISTRICT: VALE ROYAL COUNTY: CHESHIRE NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 22594 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE(S): SJ57007134 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument is Gallowsclough Cob bowl barrow. It is located on a local high point and includes an oval-shaped earthen mound up to 0.8m high with maximum dimensions of 30m by 23m. Limited excavation in 1960 found the barrow to be kerbed with turf. This excavation located the primary cremation burial of a young adult approximately 2m south-south-west of the barrow's centre, and an incomplete secondary burial consisting of various parts of an adult skeleton near the top of the barrow. ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE Bowl barrows, the most numerous form of round barrow, are funerary monuments dating from the Late Neolithic period to the Late Bronze Age, with most examples belonging to the period 2400-1500 BC. They were constructed as earthen or rubble mounds, sometimes ditched, which covered single or multiple burials. They occur either in isolation or grouped as cemeteries and often acted as a focus for burials in later periods. Often superficially similar, although differing widely in size, they exhibit regional variations in form and a diversity of burial practices. There are over 10,000 surviving bowl barrows recorded nationally (many more have already been destroyed), occurring across most of lowland Britain. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major historic element in the modern landscape and their considerable variation of form and longevity as a monument type provide important information on the diversity of beliefs and social organisations amongst early prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of protection. Despite a combination of limited excavation and spreading of the monument by ploughing, Gallowsclough Cob bowl barrow survives reasonably well. This excavation located human remains, and further evidence of interments will exist within the mound and upon the old landsurface beneath. SCHEDULING HISTORY Monument included in the Schedule on 10th January 1962 as: COUNTY/NUMBER: Cheshire 73 NAME: Gallowsclough Cob round barrow, Norley The reference of this monument is now: NATIONAL MONUMENT NUMBER: 22594 NAME: Gallowsclough Cob bowl barrow SCHEDULING AFFIRMED ON 01st September 1993